Pneumatic action for pneumatically-operated musical instruments.



A. P. GUSTAFSON.'

PNEUMATIC ACTION FOR INEUMATICALLY OPERATED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. I8. I913.

Patented May 8, 1917.

ow. WASMINCYDN. nv c4 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ADOLPH PETER GUSTAFSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO M. SCI-IULZ 00., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

PNEUMATIC ACTION FOR PNEUMATICALLY-OPERATED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

Application filed December 18, 1913.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Anonrrr P. G'os'rxrson, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Pneumatic Actions for Pneumatically-Operated Musical Tnstruments, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to pneumatic actions for pneumatically operated musical instruments, such as piano players, player pianos, and the like.

Prominent objects of the invention are to provide a simple, practical and inexpensive construction of pneumatic action; to reduce the number of parts and minimize the cost of production; to secure accuracy and effectiveness of operation; to obtain speed in assembling and permit ready disassembling of a whole or a part of the action; and to secure other and desirable results in a simple and expeditious manner.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a. vertical section of a portion of an action embodying my present invention, said section being taken on line 11 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a plan View of a portion of the action;

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross section taken on line 33 of Fig. 1.

The action shown comprises a longitudinally extending member 1 conveniently in the form of a board or plate of wood, or other material. This member 1 has a longitudinally extending recess or channel 2 which is understood to be connected at its end or in any other suitable manner with a wind inducing apparatus so that the recess or channel 2 is a vacuum duct or passage. Diaphragms 3-3 are arranged at intervals along the bottom of this duct or passage 2, said diaphragms being preferably of substantially rectangular form, as shown in Fig. 2. Openings are formed at the bottom of the duct or passage 2 to accommodate the diaphragms 3,3, which latter are preferably formed as parts of strips or sheets of suitable flexible material extended crosswise underneath the entire width of the board 1. Small end pieces 4-4: are preferably arranged at the right hand portions of the several diaphragm Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 8, 191?.

Serial No. 807,400.

strips so as to limit the loose or active portion of the same, and with similar purpose, side cross strips 4* are arranged between the several diaphragms, holding the same down in position and limiting, the loose or active width thereof. These strips thus determine the size of the loose or active portion of the diaphragm and by being made separate from the member 1 and secured in position any size or character of diaphragm may be employed. As straight strips are usually most convenient the strips 4 and 4 would be straight, thereby making the loose or active parts of the flexible strips forming the dia phragms rectangular in Pneumatics 55 are secured to the under side of the board 1, crosswise of the same, and are secured, as by being glued, to the under side of said board, so that the upper walls of said pneumatics flt against and hold the diaphragm strips in proper position, as shown in Fig. 1. The upper walls 6 of these pneumatics 5 are provided with ducts 77 which open under the diaphragms 3, said ducts 7 being understood to be con nected with the tracker board. The board 1 is provided with ducts or passages 88 extending between apertures 9 in the tops 6 of the pneumatics 5, and valve openings 10 formed at intervals along the top of the board 1. The valve openings 10 are connected by apertures 11 with the duct or passage 2. Valves 14 are arranged within the valve chambers 10, their lower faces sitting upon seats 15 and their upper faces cooperating with valve slots formed by disks 16 mounted upon the top of the board 1 above the valve openings 10, said disks 16 being, provided with ports 17. To the lower ends or faces of the valves 14 are secured stems or rods 18 which extend down to and are connected with the diaphragms 3. The lower faces of the valves 14 are preferably provided with flexible members 19 to permit a more or less flexible connection between the stems 18 and valves 1 The pneumatics 5 are intended to. be used as power pneumatics to operate piano actions or striking fingers or other instrumentalities.

On top of the board 1 is located a strip or block 25 which is provided with vertical recesses or passages 2626, and also with horizontal passages 2727. The passages 26 run down to the vacuum chamber 2 and general shape. a: ll

are provided with vents 28. The upper ends of these passages 26 are closed by plugs or buttons 29, which, however, are made removable so as to per: it access to the vents 28 for cleaning or other purposes. Tracker tubes 30 are shown connecting the cross passages 27 with the channels or passages T, and other tracker tubes 31 extend upwardly to the tracker bar. By this arrangement the vents are easily accessible and the construction providing them is very simple.

Thus it ill be seen that in the operation of the action, the diaphragms 3 are normally in somewhat lowered position, as shown in Fig. 1, with the 'alves l l resting upon the valve seats 15 and closing the ports 11. lVhen, however, is admitted into one of the tracker apertures T, the corresponding diaphragm 3 is lifted, thereby closing the port 17 and opening the port 11, through which latter air is exhausted from the pneumatic 5 causing said pneumatic to collapse, thereby to actuate a piano action or other instrumentality. l' hen the tracker port is closed the diaphragm 3 drops, thereby closing the port 11 and opening the port 17, through which latter outside air rushes in to the pneumatic causing the same to open and the piano action or other instrumentality to be released.

It will be seen that the action is very simple, involving but few parts, and it can be easily, quickly and inexpensively constructed and at the same time it can be taken apart, any part by taking ofl any pneumatic, and its diaphragm stripped. By fastening the valves and diaphragm together lost motion is avoided and quick action and other desirable results secured.

It will be understood that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

hat I claim is:

1. The combination of a longitudinally extending member provided with a longitudinally extending duct or passage, flexible strips extended crosswise of said member, longitudinal and crosswise strips limiting the extent of flexible portion of said flexible strips and pneumatics secured to the under side of said longitudinally extending member with the end portions of said flexible strips between said pneumatics and said member.

2. The combination of a longitudinally extending member havin a longitudinally extending passage in its lower portion, valve openings in its upper portion, valves in said openings, flexible strips extended crosswise of the lower surface of said member and having flexible portions extending up into said duct or passage, cross sine and end strips for limiting the loose portions of said flexible strip, pneumatics secured to the under side of said member and holding said nexible strips in position, ducts or passages leading from said valve openings to said pneumatics, and connections securing said valves and diaphragms together.

3. The combination of a board provided with a longitudinally extending channel, of a strip mounted thereon and provided with horizontal and vertical intersecting cross channels, the former being connected with tracker board tubes and the latter extending to said longitudinally extending channel and containing vents, the upper ends of said ver tical channels being provided with removable closures, and their lower ends opening into the top of said longitudinally extending channel.

The combination of a valve chamber, a valve provided therein, said valve being provided with a. flexible member, a pouch chamber and diaphragm closing said chamber, and a member extending between said flexible member and said diaphragm and having its opposite ends secured to said valve and pouch diaphragms.

5. The combination of a valve chamber, a valve provided therein, said valve being provided ith a flexible member, a pouch chamber and a diaphragm closing said pouch chamber, said diaphragm being substantially cup shaped and the opening of said cup shaped diaphragm facing the pouch chamber, a member connecting said diaphragm and flexible member together and the diaphragm provided insaid pouch chamber being constructed to lift the valve in said valve chamber.

6. In a device of the class specified, the combination of a member having a duct or passage and diaphragms provided in said duct or passage, a pneumatic secured to said member and tracker aperture openings in the wall of said pneumatic terminating nnderneath said diaphragm, and the diaphragm provided in said duct or passage being substantially cup shaped and having its opening facing toward the tracker aperture.

7. In a device of the class specified, the combination of a member having a duct or passage, an opening leading into said passage, a valve controlling said opening an inverted cup shaped flexible diaphragm provided in said passage and the convex portion of the cup shaped diaphragm normally extending toward said valve.

8. In a device of the class specified, the combination of a member having a duct or passage, a pneumatic closing said duct or passage, an opening leading into said passage, a duct leading from said opening to said pneumatic, a valve controlling said opening and a cup shaped flexible diaphragm provided in said passage and the convex portion of said diaphragm extending toward. and being connected with said valve.

9. The combination of a valve, a seat for said valve, a cup shaped diaphragm, the convex portion thereof extending toward said valve when said valve is seated, and a member connecting said valve and said diaphragm and being attached to the same, said member being movable with relation to the valve upon the actuation of said diaphragm.

10. The combination of a valve, a seat for said valve, a cup shaped diaphragm, the convex portion thereof projecting toward said valve when said valve is seated, and a member connecting said valve and said diaphragm and being attached to the same, said valve and said member forming a means whereby the convex portion of the diaphragm projects toward said valve.

11. The combination of a valve, and means for moving said valve, said means including a flexible inverted cup shaped diaphragm whose cup shaped portion projects toward said valve when said valve is seated.

12. The combination of a valve, a flexible diaphragm constructed to move said valve, a member connected with said valve and said diaphragm, the connection with the valve being adapted to permit relative movement between said member and valve upon the actuation of said diaphragm, and said diaphragm having a convex portion projecting toward said valve when said valve is seated.

13. In a device of the class specified, the combination of a member having a duct or passage, a pneumatic closing the duct or passage, a valve having a flexible member mounted in a chamber produced in said member, an inverted cup shaped flexible diaphragm having its cup shaped portion proj ecting toward said valve provided between said pneumatic and said member, and means connecting said flexible member and the diaphragm together.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 1st day of December, A. D., 1913.

ADOLPH PETER GUSTAFSON.

Witnesses:

A. L. JONES, H. A. JoNEs.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

